June Hudson is a country doctor, used to how things are handled in the town of Grace Valley. Things are changing rapidly, however.  She's hiring a new doctor, who seems to be a welcome boon to the town. But she's also dealing with issues of sexual harassment and domestic violence in the community. Meanwhile, her biological clock is ticking and a sexy stranger has gotten her attention... but is he a DEA agent or an illegal grower? Will Grace Valley take care of its own?

Having already read and loved the Virgin River series, I had to read about Grace Valley, as it is a neighboring town. Some of the characters were briefly mentioned in the Virgin River series and I just had to know more about them.

DEEP IN THE VALLEY is a sweeping tale encompassing life in a small, country community. While the focus in DEEP IN THE VALLEY is on June, the real main character is the town itself. Robyn Carr shows how this vibrant, tight knit community lives and breathes, with everyone looking out for one another. It's hard not to fall in love with the town of Grace Valley.

My only caution is that this book really isn't a romance per se. The copy I have lists it as one and while there is romance in it, the story truly is more along the lines of women's fiction. Some of the relationships are a bit unconventional, but Robyn Carr makes the storyline work very well overall.

DEEP IN THE VALLEY is an enjoyable tale and one that only makes me want to visit Grace Valley again and again. Robyn Carr doesn’t shy away from tackling some very tough issues, but she handles each and every one quite sensitively. DEEP IN THE VALLEY is easily recommended.

Reviewed by Debbie

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Posted June 2008